Sorry for taking a while for another update. In case you haven't heard, I have set a date to go back to England! Hooray! I will be leaving on March 6, and arriving in Carlisle the afternoon of March 7.
I am still not fully supported, but after talking to my boss (who really needs me back to work) and my mom (and praying about it some more) I decided to go ahead and set a date and purchase a plane ticket. This was about 10 days ago, and I still needed around $400/month. Since then I have made some cuts in my budget and had a couple more supporters come on board, and now I'm only short $167/month. So I know that the funds will be there, one way or another in 11 days when I leave!
So some prayer requests:
-Even though I'm excited to go back to England, leaving my family is going to be hard. Pray that the last few days are good quality time.
-Pray for my [future] supporters, that they would be excited to partner with me and would be obedient to God's call on them.
-Logistics: last minute meetings, packing, travel, etc. Please pray for smooth, safe, and uneventful travel!
Showing posts with label Support. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Support. Show all posts
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
another day, another visa
I got my visa today! Yippee! One less thing now on my mind. I am still $800 short of my monthly budget, however, so I won't be on my way to England until that support comes in.
"What?" you say, "they don't pay you a salary? What's all this support business about?" No, they don't pay me a salary. Being a graphic artist for a missions organization is basically doing graphic design for Jesus. It is an awesome opportunity to use all the artistic skills He has given me to help share about Him all over the world! I love that He has allowed me to create things to share about what He is doing to others, and to create things that are a blessing to His workers in far-away countries.
Doing this kind of work means that I rely on the prayers and financial support of friends and family in order to have a place to live, food to eat, and do the work that God has called me to do. My supporters are such valuable partners on my team to minister through graphic design to a world that needs to hear about Jesus!
So my friends, please continue to pray that God would bring in the financial support to accomplish what He has started. To learn more about supporting financially, please click on the "support" tab!
"What?" you say, "they don't pay you a salary? What's all this support business about?" No, they don't pay me a salary. Being a graphic artist for a missions organization is basically doing graphic design for Jesus. It is an awesome opportunity to use all the artistic skills He has given me to help share about Him all over the world! I love that He has allowed me to create things to share about what He is doing to others, and to create things that are a blessing to His workers in far-away countries.
Doing this kind of work means that I rely on the prayers and financial support of friends and family in order to have a place to live, food to eat, and do the work that God has called me to do. My supporters are such valuable partners on my team to minister through graphic design to a world that needs to hear about Jesus!
So my friends, please continue to pray that God would bring in the financial support to accomplish what He has started. To learn more about supporting financially, please click on the "support" tab!
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Merry Christmas!
Just thought I'd take a moment this Christmas eve to wish everyone a very blessed Christmas and happy New Year!
Also a little update on life, the universe, and everything. Things have been going along here at home. I'm currently taking a break from painting our "exercise room" in our basement. The whole thing was a super dark green, and with only one tiny window and a few dinky light bulbs, it was just too dark! So we are leaving the bottom half (which was a plaid wallpaper), and painting the top half a much much lighter beige color. The room looks bigger already! I can't wait til we get more lights in here. The past few days I was over at our old house painting rooms on the main level, getting it ready to rent out. Can I just say, I'm glad I don't do this for a living? I think I have tennis--er--painter's elbow! My arms are sore, my elbows are sore, my wrists are sore, my hands are sore...you get the idea! I cannot wait til all the painting is finished.
On the support front, things are moving along a little slowly. I realized when I was calculating, I forgot to include one of my biggest supporters, so I don't have as far to go as I thought! I've also had a few more commitments over the last few days, and I've had some encouraging conversations with friends, so I am feeling pretty good! At this point I am about 60% funded. I know God will bring the right people in at the right time. The right time might not be my time, but I trust that God has it all under control.
Also a little update on life, the universe, and everything. Things have been going along here at home. I'm currently taking a break from painting our "exercise room" in our basement. The whole thing was a super dark green, and with only one tiny window and a few dinky light bulbs, it was just too dark! So we are leaving the bottom half (which was a plaid wallpaper), and painting the top half a much much lighter beige color. The room looks bigger already! I can't wait til we get more lights in here. The past few days I was over at our old house painting rooms on the main level, getting it ready to rent out. Can I just say, I'm glad I don't do this for a living? I think I have tennis--er--painter's elbow! My arms are sore, my elbows are sore, my wrists are sore, my hands are sore...you get the idea! I cannot wait til all the painting is finished.
On the support front, things are moving along a little slowly. I realized when I was calculating, I forgot to include one of my biggest supporters, so I don't have as far to go as I thought! I've also had a few more commitments over the last few days, and I've had some encouraging conversations with friends, so I am feeling pretty good! At this point I am about 60% funded. I know God will bring the right people in at the right time. The right time might not be my time, but I trust that God has it all under control.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
on my way to Nineveh
I've been going to the women's Bible study at my church here at home in the 'Burg. I wasn't planning on going, but decided last minute, about an hour before the first meeting, interestingly enough. We're going through Priscilla Shirer's study on Jonah, a "life interrupted". My life has been full of interruptions, or "divine interventions". Basically my plans don't go...well, according to plan! The story of my life, in the last few years at least, has been to let go of my need to plan, and to know what is coming. But I digress...
Basically you have Jonah, a prophet of Israel. He's all fine and good doing his daily thing, and then God says, "I want you to go to Nineveh to tell them about Me!" Nineveh, the place of Jonah's enemies, where they are really mean (understatement) and there's a good chance they'll kill you (not an understatement!). So we know the story. Jonah says "heck no!" and gets on the first ship bound the other direction and three times as far away. A storm comes, they throw him overboard, he gets swallowed by a giant fish and given a second chance to complete the mission that God has called him to. And he's obedient, the second time around.
During this study, Priscilla asked us to think about what our "Nineveh" is, the people we know God is telling us to reach out to but we are reluctant to. For the longest time I wasn't really sure what that was for me. I'm just living at home, going to church. All my family knows the Lord, who on earth do I have to "reach out" to? Then I realized, my Nineveh doesn't look like what she described. Mine is different. My "Nineveh" isn't really reaching out to people, but it is doing something that God is telling me to that I'm not really excited about and have been putting off for a while.
The whole reason I'm here is to get a new visa and work on raising more support to go back to England. I was also hoping to get a job to earn a little extra money. But then, we moved right when I got home, and I was busy for the first few weeks. Talk about an interruption! Then I wasn't feeling well. Then there were things planned for the next few weekends to prepare for. Then I found more and more excuses not to contact people. I knew I should get around to working on support, but what's the rush, right? More excuses, and then, oh hey, its November!
This has shown me that yes, I did have some legitimate reasons to begin with. Moving is stressful. Not living the house I called "home" anymore is considered a loss, and I needed time to emotionally deal with that before engaging the real world. But now God is showing me my "Nineveh", and calling me to do my part to go back to England. I can't be disobedient anymore. Even if I finally get a temporary job offer that will bring in some money. Which I did, and had to turn down. Just because something is good doesn't mean we can use it as an excuse to disobey what God is actually calling us to do. So my friends, please pray for me! There's a reason why I've been putting this off. It's hard work. It's uncomfortable. It's impossible for me to do on my own. But God desires my obedience more than other "good things" that I think I have to offer Him. And I know from experience, He will not leave me hanging!
So, we know what my "Nineveh" is, what's yours?
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
yes, I'm still alive...
So, been back home for about a month now! Let me explain. No...there is too much. Let me sum up:
The last few weeks at the office were spent finishing off things, packing up, and saying goodbye to all the lovely people I was blessed to work with this past year! The flight home was long but uneventful. My sister met me at the airport with a GIANT sunflower balloon! It was truly epic. Then she drove me home to our family's new house, where I had a mattress on the floor in my room and that was it.
I should explain this part. Back in August, my parents put an offer in on a house about six miles down the road from where we used to live. After they closed, they were going to take a while to paint the new house and move in as rooms were finished. That was before some people we know from church needed a place to live after a tree fell on their house from the hurricane. Also, to make matters more interesting, our old house's basement flooded. So, my parents started moving stuff from the main floor of our old house so the family could move in...which happened to be three days after I got home. My room was in the basement...luckily it didn't get flooded too bad.
So anyway, after I got home it was all packing and painting and moving and craziness for a few weeks. It was really difficult not living in the old house. On top of all that, I decided to have a get-together for my supporters in the area this past Saturday, and mom said we should have it at the new house! So basically I was busy painting and trying to get the house ready. Now that the party's over and I'm a bit more settled in, I feel like I can focus on re-connecting with people and start setting up meetings to keep my support going so I can go back to England in January. I also am trying to line up a temp job to help earn a little extra cash and get me out of the house a bit. I will miss sleeping in every day (!) but its time to get back to work!
Anyway, that's about it for now. Tune in next time to hear Rachel say...
The last few weeks at the office were spent finishing off things, packing up, and saying goodbye to all the lovely people I was blessed to work with this past year! The flight home was long but uneventful. My sister met me at the airport with a GIANT sunflower balloon! It was truly epic. Then she drove me home to our family's new house, where I had a mattress on the floor in my room and that was it.
I should explain this part. Back in August, my parents put an offer in on a house about six miles down the road from where we used to live. After they closed, they were going to take a while to paint the new house and move in as rooms were finished. That was before some people we know from church needed a place to live after a tree fell on their house from the hurricane. Also, to make matters more interesting, our old house's basement flooded. So, my parents started moving stuff from the main floor of our old house so the family could move in...which happened to be three days after I got home. My room was in the basement...luckily it didn't get flooded too bad.
So anyway, after I got home it was all packing and painting and moving and craziness for a few weeks. It was really difficult not living in the old house. On top of all that, I decided to have a get-together for my supporters in the area this past Saturday, and mom said we should have it at the new house! So basically I was busy painting and trying to get the house ready. Now that the party's over and I'm a bit more settled in, I feel like I can focus on re-connecting with people and start setting up meetings to keep my support going so I can go back to England in January. I also am trying to line up a temp job to help earn a little extra cash and get me out of the house a bit. I will miss sleeping in every day (!) but its time to get back to work!
Anyway, that's about it for now. Tune in next time to hear Rachel say...
Saturday, July 24, 2010
long weekend of waiting.
Waiting. Seems like the story of my life. Big things happen, but only between long periods of waiting. And I hate waiting.
Between what I have now and what people are still sending in, I am at 100%!!! I've notified OM about where I am at, now I am waiting for the approval to get a plane ticket. I was hoping to hear sometime on Friday, but no such luck...so I'll be antsy all weekend. I'm also waiting to hear about my visa. The consulate in New York has my application...hopefully I'll hear something by the end of the week. Then its waiting another three weeks to be done with work. (Yay!) Then another week, and I'm off, and things will go by quickly!
I'm just thankful the waiting is almost over, and there is a light at the end of the tunnel...but it is hard to live in the moment when you know something bigger is coming!
Between what I have now and what people are still sending in, I am at 100%!!! I've notified OM about where I am at, now I am waiting for the approval to get a plane ticket. I was hoping to hear sometime on Friday, but no such luck...so I'll be antsy all weekend. I'm also waiting to hear about my visa. The consulate in New York has my application...hopefully I'll hear something by the end of the week. Then its waiting another three weeks to be done with work. (Yay!) Then another week, and I'm off, and things will go by quickly!
I'm just thankful the waiting is almost over, and there is a light at the end of the tunnel...but it is hard to live in the moment when you know something bigger is coming!
Thursday, July 22, 2010
only one thing left to say:
God is SO good!!!
Its true. Sometimes we forget because we are so wrapped up in our own problems. Sometimes we forget because the enemy is telling us lies that He doesn't care, or that He will let us down. But even if we forget, that doesn't change the fact that He is good!
I am ecstatic to report that I am around 95% funded, once all commitments have been sent in. That means that I only need $50 a month to be fully funded. And the deadline is tomorrow. God's timing is truly perfect.
When I started out, it was going so slow. There were many times along the way that I wondered if it would ever happen. But that is why God is so amazing. I knew that if this was going to happen, it would be God's doing and not my own. There were times I would get so discouraged, the enemy telling me lies, and me being tempted to believe them. There was even someone at church who basically said "good luck with that in this economy"...talk about a wet blanket quenching the Spirit! But the more impossible our circumstances, the more amazing it looks when God overcomes them!
So now my friends, we have seen Him overcome financial obstacles, I am praying to see Him overcome the UK visa process!
Its true. Sometimes we forget because we are so wrapped up in our own problems. Sometimes we forget because the enemy is telling us lies that He doesn't care, or that He will let us down. But even if we forget, that doesn't change the fact that He is good!
I am ecstatic to report that I am around 95% funded, once all commitments have been sent in. That means that I only need $50 a month to be fully funded. And the deadline is tomorrow. God's timing is truly perfect.
When I started out, it was going so slow. There were many times along the way that I wondered if it would ever happen. But that is why God is so amazing. I knew that if this was going to happen, it would be God's doing and not my own. There were times I would get so discouraged, the enemy telling me lies, and me being tempted to believe them. There was even someone at church who basically said "good luck with that in this economy"...talk about a wet blanket quenching the Spirit! But the more impossible our circumstances, the more amazing it looks when God overcomes them!
So now my friends, we have seen Him overcome financial obstacles, I am praying to see Him overcome the UK visa process!
Monday, July 19, 2010
getting there
I gave another announcement at church yesterday, so I got a few more names. God really has been good to me throughout this whole thing. He is confirming in many ways that this is what I am supposed to be doing.
I am now close to 80% funded, thanks to a very generous anonymous doner. So if you're out there, you know who you are. Thank you so much. God has blessed me immensely because of you!
And thank you to all who are reading this and sending your prayers up for me, and support me through your friendship and finances. God is using you to bless me and others througout the world!
I am now close to 80% funded, thanks to a very generous anonymous doner. So if you're out there, you know who you are. Thank you so much. God has blessed me immensely because of you!
And thank you to all who are reading this and sending your prayers up for me, and support me through your friendship and finances. God is using you to bless me and others througout the world!
Saturday, July 17, 2010
i hate public speaking...
so, I'm giving another England announcement at church tomorrow. Pray that my nerves are calmed, and that God moves!
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Ruminations
I have one week before my deadline, and I am at 70%, so praise the Lord! I know He has all things in His hands, and it is possible that I can go as scheduled! The office at Carlisle will determine if I have "enough" raised to go. If I have enough, I will be able to leave on August 23 for Holland, where I will attend GO (Global Orientation) conference. If I don't have enough, they will probably just have me come straight to Carlisle when I am fully supported and send me to the next GO conference in January.
I am so excited, nervous, scared...lots of different emotions! I am excited that I can finally move on to what could be the start of a career. I am excited to be using my creativity and artistic skills to help tell people about Jesus. I am so glad that I will not be dealing with the general public. I'm a receptionist at a Doctor's Office right now, and, while I am thankful for the job in a time when many people are out of work, it is not my cup of tea. I am nervous...will I make it there ok? Will I get along with my flatmate(s)? Will I make any friends???
I'm scared that the funding will come in slower than I want. I'm scared that my visa will get denied, or I'll get there and they won't let me in for some strange reason. I'm scared that I'll get there and be rubbish as a graphic artist and they'll be sorry that they invited me to come.
But that is just the enemy. He is telling me that I'm rubbish, that everything will fall apart, that God will somehow fail me. And I know those are all lies, especially the last part. I know my God, and I know He never fails! Even if things don't go the way I plan or want them to (which they probably won't!), that doesn't mean that God has failed me. His plans are more perfect and complete than mine. If my visa gets denied or some other crazy thing happens, it doesn't mean that He has failed, it means that He must have a reason for it all, even if I don't know what it is.
Because I know that "God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28) I love God. He is calling me to this. It will work out for the best!
I am so excited, nervous, scared...lots of different emotions! I am excited that I can finally move on to what could be the start of a career. I am excited to be using my creativity and artistic skills to help tell people about Jesus. I am so glad that I will not be dealing with the general public. I'm a receptionist at a Doctor's Office right now, and, while I am thankful for the job in a time when many people are out of work, it is not my cup of tea. I am nervous...will I make it there ok? Will I get along with my flatmate(s)? Will I make any friends???
I'm scared that the funding will come in slower than I want. I'm scared that my visa will get denied, or I'll get there and they won't let me in for some strange reason. I'm scared that I'll get there and be rubbish as a graphic artist and they'll be sorry that they invited me to come.
But that is just the enemy. He is telling me that I'm rubbish, that everything will fall apart, that God will somehow fail me. And I know those are all lies, especially the last part. I know my God, and I know He never fails! Even if things don't go the way I plan or want them to (which they probably won't!), that doesn't mean that God has failed me. His plans are more perfect and complete than mine. If my visa gets denied or some other crazy thing happens, it doesn't mean that He has failed, it means that He must have a reason for it all, even if I don't know what it is.
Because I know that "God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28) I love God. He is calling me to this. It will work out for the best!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
the journey so far.
For the past few years since graduating from college, I have been struggling with “what to be when I grow up”. I have learned from talking to many that some of us never really figure that out! I have also learned that God has made us and called us to a life beyond the ordinary. For me, He has made me to be a creative person, to work with my hands, to solve problems. He has given me an artistic gift and an understanding of how to make things visually pleasing, as well as a passion for architecture and buildings that need saving. He has also given me a heart for the lost in Europe, the UK in particular. It is because of these seemingly different inclinations and desires that, over the last few years, I have found myself on a very windy road to what God has in store for me.
Eventually, through many questions, tears, and prayers, God has led me here. I have been accepted to join Operation Mobilization (OM), an interdenominational, evangelical mission organization. OM has approximately 5,400 missionaries serving in over 110 nations throughout the world. Their role in the body of Christ is to motivate, develop and equip people for world evangelization, and to strengthen and help plant churches, especially among the unreached in the Middle East, Europe, and South and Central Asia. To learn more about OM including their different areas of ministry and statement of faith, visit their website at omusa.org.
I will be serving as a graphic artist in Carlisle, UK with the International Coordinating Team (ICT) for a year. The purpose of ICT is to support and coordinate the areas of leadership, research and strategic planning, maintenance of financial accounting standards, internal auditing, fundraising, personnel administration and training, IT services and communication within OM International. Working as a graphic artist in the communications department, I will be working on OM International’s website as well as promotional materials such as flyers and brochures, news website, and prayer cards for other missionaries in the field. I will have a good overview of the OM movement and will use the artistic skill and vision that God has given me to help make Him known to those who have never even heard His name! I am incredibly blessed and excited that He is calling me to this mission!
Some prayer requests:
Please pray for my ministry team. In order to work with OM, it is my responsibility to form a team of ministry partners who will offer prayer and monthly financial support. In order to leave for the field by the end of August, I need to have a total of $1,449 in monthly support by July 23. I am currently about 65% raised, which means I still need around $500 in monthly support.
My visa situation. To travel to the UK, I need to be granted a charity worker temporary visa. I have started the visa application process (which is actually much simpler than a student visa!) Pray that everything goes smoothly!
Eventually, through many questions, tears, and prayers, God has led me here. I have been accepted to join Operation Mobilization (OM), an interdenominational, evangelical mission organization. OM has approximately 5,400 missionaries serving in over 110 nations throughout the world. Their role in the body of Christ is to motivate, develop and equip people for world evangelization, and to strengthen and help plant churches, especially among the unreached in the Middle East, Europe, and South and Central Asia. To learn more about OM including their different areas of ministry and statement of faith, visit their website at omusa.org.
I will be serving as a graphic artist in Carlisle, UK with the International Coordinating Team (ICT) for a year. The purpose of ICT is to support and coordinate the areas of leadership, research and strategic planning, maintenance of financial accounting standards, internal auditing, fundraising, personnel administration and training, IT services and communication within OM International. Working as a graphic artist in the communications department, I will be working on OM International’s website as well as promotional materials such as flyers and brochures, news website, and prayer cards for other missionaries in the field. I will have a good overview of the OM movement and will use the artistic skill and vision that God has given me to help make Him known to those who have never even heard His name! I am incredibly blessed and excited that He is calling me to this mission!
Some prayer requests:
Please pray for my ministry team. In order to work with OM, it is my responsibility to form a team of ministry partners who will offer prayer and monthly financial support. In order to leave for the field by the end of August, I need to have a total of $1,449 in monthly support by July 23. I am currently about 65% raised, which means I still need around $500 in monthly support.
My visa situation. To travel to the UK, I need to be granted a charity worker temporary visa. I have started the visa application process (which is actually much simpler than a student visa!) Pray that everything goes smoothly!
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